Lovely Spiraling Tower

Tower at Thanksgiving Square

I adore this amazing work by Philip Johnson. I'm kind of mad I did not visit this when I was in Dallas.

I felt really cool this weekend when I saw the preview for The Tree of Life. They panned on this and I total could refer to who had designed it and it made me feel really cultured. Thank you sister.

I love Christmas and decorations

Rolfs Restaurant, best Christmas decoration in all of NYC. They have so much crap hanging from the ceiling you have to duck to not hit your head. It is one magical place!

Too much, too much!

Sufjan Steven’s just put out his new album The Age of Adz. When I got home one night, I saw it had just been released and downloaded it on an impulse without even thinking about it or previewing any of the songs. At first I have to say I was disappointed in my rash action. I now feel differently. It just took some time to grow on me. It is quite the change from the Sufjan we have listened to in the past.

Sufjan is such an intriguing character. He is kind of all over the place and I think needs to start focusing back on his 50 state project. I mean he could have named this album after one of the states I’m sure. At this rate he will never finish that one up!

In this new album, classical instrumental preludes are now accompanied with synthesizer and electronic beats. The Age of Adz sounds like it could be the soundtrack to an epic fantasy movie. The CD still has the theatrics and over the topness Sufjan always bring to the table. This time he also brought with him a back up electronic team. Songs are still lengthy, but would you expect anything less? This album I think has a record breaker though: Impossible Soul is a whopping 25:35! It is a great song though. It is really like listening to 5 songs; there are highs and lows and breaks where a new song virtually could start, so it doesn't feel like this crazy drawn out tune that you are hating on and wishing was over. After many listens, I have grown highly obsessed with this ridiculously long song to a sickening amount. My other favorites songs are I Want to be Well and Too Much. Too Much has a crazy video to match the crazy sound. This video might be banned like anime programming for causing seizures, but until then we will need to soak it in and enjoy it as much as possible.




Anyways, you must give it a chance yourself. Then listen again. It will grow on you.

Call me a groupie if you want, but I saw them again.

Friday night, Guster played a phenomenal show at the Beacon Theater, which was an uplifting and pivotal experience in my life. My partner in crime for attending this event was held hostage at work leaving me to attend my first concert flying solo. While I would have liked to have been sharing the experience with someone, I was seeing my all time favorite band and can’t really complain.

They now have so many songs, it makes for a very thrilling show. It is hard to guess just which songs they might play. I was refreshed to hear quite a few songs that they don’t usually have in their set. They also incorporated a good mix of new and old. But no Parachute songs ☹ I was quite thrilled to hear “What you Wish For.” Some of my other favorite moments of the night were “Airport Song” which they mixed up and played in a different fashion than usual, for come downstairs and say hello, a ukulele descended from the sky for Ryan to grab, and they incorporate Billy Joel’s “My life” with “Hang On” which was totally great. Ryan was super into this, put down his guitar and went up to the audience, which is not a usual habit of his. They came back for two encores and ended the night with their acoustic “Jesus on the Radio.”


I was amused because when I saw them today, I thought, you can tell they are dads now. Rather than the usual attire of old shirt of some sort, Adam was wearing a polo, Brian, a polo with sweater vest, and Ryan, a button down. Ryan was also wearing white jeans. He pointed it out himself and said he was trying a new look and thought what better place to try it then the fashion capital. He then proceeded to sing a little tune about it!

Also, the opener was great! It’s been a long time since I have seen a really good opener. It is such a better way to warm up with music you are also digging, then suffering through a painfully bad group. Today’s opener at Jukebox the Ghost who hail from DC. They had a Ben Fold type sound. Immediately when I got home I downloaded their stuff!

So you can feel like you were there with me:
"White Denim"

Easy Wonderful.

Life has been Easy and Wonderful lately. Well at least at moments while I have been listening to the long awaited harmonious new work by Guster.

I have no idea how my life has continued the past four years with a void in new Guster material. The wait has finally ended and because I'm crazy, I had to pre-order their latest which allowed me to receive TWO whole days prior to its release WHAT WHAT! I have now had it in my possession for exactly two weeks and basically it is the only thing that has been coming out of my ear phones. I have listened to the album 21 times in its entirety thus far. Sick?? maybe, but I don't care.

It is a great new album. It has a very breezy lyricalness to it. I feel it is a change in sound with more banjo and just a more "easy" sound. My one and only complaints is that there is a void of the usual crazy awesome drum solos. Where did Brian go? This will make me sad when I see them next. I'm not sure why this has occurred, but perhaps his hand have been wrapped one too many times and just don't want to be put through it anymore??

The song that has pulled ahead of all other in the most listened to category is most definitely "Do what you want." They incorporate synthesizers in this one which is just plain awesome. I also really like "On the Ocean."

Please go buy it for yourself!

Stalking Band Members who like to DJ

Saw Vampire Weekend for round 2. They put on a great show. I have to say, my first experience seeing them was still slightly better, but this had nothing to do with their abilities. Sorry Radio city, but I just love GA and your seat were hindering me! If I hadn't been trapped to my seat, I would have missed out on the spectacle that was the mess of a guy in the row in front of us. He was dancing crazy like no other and was totally gone. He was so gone, he was facing backwards most of the show, which the rowdy boys behind him did not appreciate!! He also made numerous attempts to unfold his chair with his foot and step up on it. These attempts were mostly unsuccessful and their was falling involved! HA

They have so many good songs between their two albums and I feel like they also end up playing basically everything! They did a Bruce Springsteen cover, which was like huh? People were excited about it though!



During some of the songs chandeliers were let down from the ceiling. It brought back Happy Haunted Mansion memories and made me very happy!



After the concert, the night only got better. We attended the after party where Chromeo and Vampire Weekend would be djing! While making our way to the door who walked right by me, but David from Chromeo. I almost died. I was scrounging for my purse trying to get to my camera and just made it in time to take THIS!


First David DJed. He was awesome. He played probably 4 of his own song, which I have to say that is kind of awkward. I do not object though, because I love his music and you never hear them out, while they are so great for dancing and should be more widely played. Anyways, the fact that they are his own songs and he is playing them is kind of funny!


After Chromeo, my favorite member of Vampire Weekend DJed. He is my favorite because when performing he does this silly little jig all around the stage that I just find amazing. He was a good DJ as well. He did not jig though while DJing.

Cupcakes by Melissa

Thanks to work, I got to try Cupcakes by Melissa. They are this cupcake shop in NYC that was trying to win the record for making the itty bittiest cupcakes alive. She's got some really neat flavor that are super tasty and leave you want more. Being bite size doesn't really deter you from eating less, if anything you probably eat more because they are so easy to pop in your mouth. The beauty of the size is that you get to try multiple flavors! For an event you can buy a pizza box full of 100 cupcakes! My favorite flavor, I highly recommend you trying are: Tie Dye, (just a plain vanilla on vanilla jazzed up with food coloring for the kid inside you!) chocolate chip pancakes, (they cake has maple syrup in it, so you really feel like you are eating pancakes; it is to die for!) and last but not least cinnamon! They are also some popular flavors of the chocolate persuasion you would probably enjoy!

Pour a glass of milk for this one.

As with lots of food discoveries I have, I learned this one from the Food Network. After seeing an episode of Bobby Flay's Throwdown, I knew I just had to go get my hands on one of these Levain cookies. Conveniently located on the Upper West Side, my mom and I paid a visit on this lovely afternoon.

This is hands down the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. They are huge! Each cookie weighs 6 ounces so they are good for sharing or for overindulging yourself! I despise hard crunchy cookies. These have just the right amount of crunch on the outside paired with a soft moist inside. They have full walnuts inside them. I usually would prefer my cookies sans nuts, but these didn't bother me at all. I almost didn't notice they were there. Walnuts are such a soft nut they weren't too much. I also feel the nuts really help the cookie to stand tall and not end up flat like a pancake.

The owners are triathletes that loved baking and have huge sweet tooths. I can TOTALLY relate, want to be their friends, and follow suit. Oh and of course they won the throwdown. These cookies will never be beat!

Las Paletas

The treasure of Nashville.

Las Paletas is a small popsicle shop, which provides the people of Nashville with fresh homemade Mexican popsicles. They are literally the best popsicles I’ve ever had, jam packed with so much flavor. They really hit the spot when you are sitting in steamy 100 degree weather starting to melt away. They are so tasty that I had three while I was in town! I tried berries, kiwi, and creamy lime. They were all amazing and there were even more I just didn’t have time to try.


They have a fruit variety as well as a creamy variety and also some out of the norm flavors like avocado, rose petal, and hibiscus. You can find them at their shop and also at many other local restaurants like Fido on 21st Ave!

My friend Adrienne is living the life, eating las paletas daily!

Happy 4th!

Spent the 4th in Hotlanta with my sister. Saw some pretty great fireworks in Centennial Park. They shot them off from three locations, which provided for a wrap-around display! Other celebratory activities from the weekend, included mini-golfing in my lobster dress. I forgot how offensively bad I am at the sport! I got really hot and parched from golfing so hard so to cool off I experienced Sonic for the very first time! I have been taunted with commercials up north for years when we don't have a sonic for miles. It was pretty thrilling driving up to our own menu and having a girl bring out our drinks on roller skates. I kind of wish there had been one nearby growing up. I totally would have worked there!

Gone to Gov

Check. I checked off one of the things on my list of things to do this summer: Go to Governors Island! We trekked down to the bottom of Manhattan to catch the FREE ferry to the island. We had a lovely picnic with friends and then played some Frisbee. Many people rent bikes for amusement, but beware these bike must be very hard to maneuver. As a pedestrian, you must watch out for them. I almost got hit multiple times!

The main reason we picked today to make our visit was because of the awesome concert scheduled. Yeasayer was playing, whom I have recently become obsessed with. You can only imagine how pumped I was when I heard they would be playing for free. There were two openers; the first was Delicate Steve. They provided us with some really neat beats, but no singing. My advice: get a lead singer and you guys could go somewhere! The second act, I had actually seen before because of a friend of a friend connection to the band Keepaway. The last time I saw them at the Mercury Lounge, I enjoyed them a little bit more. Outside the lead singers voice just was sounding a little screechy to me. All in all, they were good acts to get us warmed up.



Yeasayer was great live! They are just such a fun band and play great music that makes you want to dance. I guess some of the crowd was really dreading dealing with the masses on route back to Manhattan, so people started clearing out before they were even done. I could not comprehend this, but also appreciated the breathing and dancing space it provided me with especially when they played, “ONE” which is my favorite!

One of the singers had on a jumpsuit, which appeared to be some crazy print from afar. I was greatly amused by this ensemble. Jumpsuits are quite popular for girls currently so I guess he wanted in on the trend!



Other fun things from the night: Light up palms trees!

Old man I wanted to hang out with!

Meet Dade

My cousins new chocolate lab puppy!

Maybe the cutest dog ever!

Daft Punk is Playing in my house!

I highly advise everyone downloading the new LCD Soundsystem album “This is Happening.” The band has hit the street of NY playing a string of show to start off their latest tour. I had the pleasure of seeing them in their last NY show at Terminal 5 on Sunday night. They played a good mix of new and old hits and put on a great show. If you are unfamiliar with the band, they are awesome. They put a mix on funky dance electronic beats with an indie rock feel. Therefore, there was lots of dancing to be had at the concert! I just feel you can’t stand still while listening to there music. James Murphy, the lead singer of the band, has been said to be the Grandfather of NYC rock. He believes in keeping music in its purest form and wants everyone at the concert to be able to hear the same sound. There are many bands out there that are following in his footsteps, linking dance and rock music; for this, I must thank James.

Highlights included, my fave from the new album, “I Can Change,” a new spin on their “Daft Punk is Playing in my House” and at the end of the concert, a million white balloons descended from the ceiling! It was awesome!

PR!

One of the greatest accomplishments and experiences of my life thus far is the Boston Marathon. In the running community, this event is put up on the highest pedestal. In the Boston community, this day has such significance and meaning. I grew up thinking that everywhere people had no school or work on Patriots Day…….Later in life, I came to learn not all our such lucky souls.

I grew up hearing all the hype about this event. I can’t say I always thought “One day I want to do that,” but after finally warming up to the idea of running for a ridiculous length of time, I couldn’t wait to be a part of Boston. In the fall I had run NYC. I would have to say in comparison it felt as if no one was watching NY, because the crowds for Boston were just that good! Boston is a tough course and the second half was hard, but thanks to the yelling and support of the onlookers I was carried right through to the finish.

I guess I ran a really smart race. I didn't even intentionally do this, but my half marathon time was a minute slower than NY and in the end I was more than a minute faster. I had some other friends running, but ended up flying solo this day. I was sad to be running alone yet again, as I had done all my training and NY alone. It would have been nice to have had someone to share the experience with, but I still was smiling and laughing the whole time……by myself I guess this may have just made me seem like a big weirdo!

A friend had warned me “After mile 12 your legs will kill” because the first half is a constant downhill. I kinda didn't totally believe her because I have always loved downhills in races. But I’m talking like a 50m downhill, not 12 miles one! So yea she was somewhat right, but it was more my legs just felt tired. It was a little bit worrisome, but it wasn't a bad pain or anything, they just felt tired. If I hadn't been running in Boston with those crowds, I would have not run as good a time.

The second half includes the legendary Heartbreak hill, which is supposed to be a killer of a hill that hits you right in the worst moments of the race as you are hitting the wall. I’d have to say it really wasn’t as bad as they all say. Of course my legs were tired, but it wasn’t a constant incline it had lots of gradations and my legs actually were liking the change from going up to down. The last 3 miles the crowd was just so loud and excited me so much, it was easy. Also when I spotted the big citgo sign I got so pumped inside. My goal was 3:17 for NY. I never told anyone really, but that was my goal again. I knew Boston was harder, so that would make my goal more ambitious. If I had run anything under 3:20 I was going to be psyched.

My time was 3:16:56. How bout that for obtained a goal and new PR!

Cupcake Taste Test

I love sweets; especially cake.

At social gatherings when cake is passed around the room, after, many plates will have an L shape of frosting leftover. People have told me they just think frosting is too sweet?!??!?!?! I'm sorry, but I just can't comprehend this notion.

We have proof of my love for cake thank to uncle Paul videotaping my fourth birthday. Most children at parties will take a few bites, then grow bored and run away to play. Well not me; while all my friends had scampered away, I sat alone at the table finishing my slice of amazing cake from Connors Bakery.

In New York City, there are two very popular cupcake houses: Magnolia and Crumbs. This past weekend I conducted a taste test to see which was better. I purchased one of each and brought them home to eat them simultaneously, so I could fully compare and contrast.

I purchased the standard vanilla frosting, yellow cake from each. The winner: CRUMBS!
Crumb's cake is much lighter and fluffier. Magnolia's cake is more dense like a pound cake. Both cakes were moist, which was good because there is nothing worse than dry cake. No amounts of good frosting can make up for bad cake. Crumbs also get kudos in the frosting dept. I feel there was a more sugary taste, while Magnolia's was a buttery taste.

Before I had even tasted, I have to say I was more impressed in the Crumbs store. They have tons of different flavors and brightly decorate all their different concoctions. I do have to say they play in on the supersized American style. All the fun flavors come in the jumbo size while the standard size come in basics. They do sell a mini variety pack which is kind of fun.

Chanel's Teddy Bear Chic Collection

Karl Lagerfeld has gone off the deep end......and hit his head on an ice berg.

The Fall 2010 Chanel collection might be one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. Who knew looking like a teddy bear would be the next big thing in fashion? And a multi-colored bear at that!


It is some form of eskimo chic where every single outfit had some form of fur in it. Fur pants, check. Fur shoes, check. fur purse, check. I really don't know what good old Karl was thinking and the sad thing is because it is Chanel some name hungry fashionista will think it is brilliant. Just wait until October rolls around and you seem some weirdo wearing fur pants.

Here are a few of my faves:


Oh and did you notice the water on the runway. They flew in icebergs from Scandinavia for the event. Totally normal!

Oh and one more thing. Ever want a pair of cashmere underwear that you could wear superman style? Yup. Me too!